The Ice Queen of the North
Having two consciousnesses didn't mean her vision was limited.
Eloi had simply taken the forefront, but Mandy was sharing the exact same field of view. That's why she watched crystal clear as Eloi got utterly demolished by Zeon.
Eloi's pain was Mandy's pain, too.
Of course, she felt every bit of the agony her body endured.
That's why she could only stare at Zeon with a terrified expression.
Zeon spoke up.
"Mandy, right?"
"Y-...yes."
"I think I get it now—how you and Eloi split the roles. You're the one handling Neo Seoul business, and she takes over for the fighting, yeah?"
"Yes!"
"I won't make a fuss about Eloi popping out. But if we're negotiating or sharing info, it has to be you, Mandy. Got it?"
"I... can do that."
"Okay! Let's call that settled from now on."
"Is that... all?"
"Huh?"
Zeon gave her a puzzled look, so Mandy answered cautiously.
"Eloi... was rude to you."
"Oh, that? No big deal. It wasn't really dangerous anyway."
Zeon chuckled like it was nothing.
Eloi was definitely strong.
In Awakener terms, at least B-rank, probably higher.
Especially that last skill she'd unleashed—it had been pretty damn risky.
Any other Awakener would've taken serious damage or been in real trouble.
Eloi was that skilled in close-quarters combat.
The problem was, Zeon was even better.
In the seven years since parting with Dayton, Zeon had fought countless battles.
Most against monsters, but plenty against humans, too.
Locals in the areas he passed through, scavengers—plenty had come gunning for him.
Zeon had beaten them all and survived this long.
He had experience Eloi couldn't even touch.
That's why he hadn't needed sand to subdue her.
Mandy muttered in disbelief.
"Eloi's strong, though..."
"She is. A bit more experience, and she'd be a real threat... Ah! Here, drink this first."
Zeon suddenly pulled a small vial from inside his robe and handed it to her.
"What's this?"
"Think of it as a healing potion. It'll fix most wounds right up. Oh, realign any broken bones before drinking—might heal crooked otherwise."
Mandy's nose was busted.
From Zeon's knee strike.
Only now realizing her state, she reset her nose.
Crack!
With the bone back in place, breathing got a lot easier.
Mandy drank the mystery potion Zeon gave her.
The moment it hit her tongue, a strange coolness spread through her.
Heat bloomed in her broken nose and cracked arm bones. They were knitting back together.
Mandy stared at the empty vial in shock.
"What is this? Never heard of a potion like it."
"Mixed some monster blood and herbs. Pretty useful, huh?"
"'Useful' doesn't cover it."
Even in Neo Seoul, she'd never seen anything with this potency. Bringing it back there would cause a riot.
Just who the hell is this guy?
He defied everything she knew.
He knew the desert inside out and was terrifyingly strong.
If he'd been in Neo Seoul, she'd have heard of him. The fact she hadn't meant he hadn't grown up there.
To think a powerhouse like this existed outside Neo Seoul.
She rubbed her arms without thinking.
Goosebumps.
Inside, Eloi was ranting that she was overreacting, insisting she'd win a rematch.
But Mandy knew better.
Even if Eloi came out again, she wouldn't stand a chance against Zeon.
Mandy asked,
"What're you curious about?"
"Ever heard of Elharon?"
"What's that?"
Mandy tilted her head at the unfamiliar word.
"No idea? Supposedly a city built by heteromorphs from Kurayan."
"What? Those fucking bastards built a city?"
Suddenly, Eloi's personality surged forward.
Zeon grimaced, but Eloi was too pissed to care, words tumbling out.
"They really built a city? Like Neo Seoul? Spill it."
"I did say I wanted to talk to Mandy, not you. Looks like you forget lessons quick."
"Ah, that... Fuck! Sorry. I just got so mad, it slipped out..."
"Why're you mad? Your kin are probably there, too."
"You think I'm some love child? That elf scum raped my mom—that's what spat me out. Sound good to you? Tell me where. I'll go wipe 'em all out right now."
Eloi thrashed with killing intent.
If she knew the location, she'd charge in that instant.
Zeon looked at her and said,
"You're useless, so send Mandy back out."
"Hey!"
"Unless you really wanna die..."
"Fucking asshole!"
Eloi stormed off with curses, and Mandy reemerged.
She shook her head, looking flustered.
"Sorry. When she gets that mad, I can't control her..."
"Whatever. You really don't know Elharon?"
"First I've heard of it. A place like that even existing."
"Any heteromorphs left in Neo Seoul?"
"Any? Plenty."
"Didn't the massacre decades ago wipe most out?"
"How do you know that? Yeah, tons died back then. But they bred like roaches."
Mandy's tone dripped with hatred for heteromorphs.
Just like Eloi, she despised them.
Especially the elves.
"Any of 'em might know about Elharon?"
"Well... maybe."
Mandy trailed off.
That's when Kim Sang-sik, who'd been watching quietly, spoke up cautiously.
"The Ice Queen might know."
"Ice Queen?"
"The North District's ruler's moniker."
"And?"
"She's a pure-blood elf."
Zeon eyed Kim Sang-sik with interest.
"So, the Ice Queen's a pure-blood elf?"
"Yes! That's the assumption."
"Fucking bitch."
Mandy spat venomously.
Neo Seoul was currently divided into five major districts.
Mayor Jin Geum-ho controlled the Central District.
He held the greatest power, overseeing the city's overall policies.
He was the one who'd rebuilt the terraforming-ravaged ruins of Seoul into a fusion of magic and civilization.
A living monster, backed by overwhelming citizen support, who'd held the mayor's seat for over a century.
His power was as impregnable as the city's towering walls. But challengers existed.
The rulers of the East, West, South, and North Districts.
They couldn't match Jin Geum-ho, but each dominated their own turf.
East District's ruler: Yohan.
West: Kim Hyun-soo.
South: Shaorun.
And North: the Ice Queen.
The Ice Queen was an elf.
She rarely appeared publicly—most folks didn't even know she existed.
But she was real.
She ruled the North from behind thick curtains.
That's why so many heteromorphs clustered there.
Almost all surviving heteromorphs in Neo Seoul had settled in the North District.
The Ice Queen protected them fiercely.
"That bitch won't talk. Selfish cunt only cares about her own kind."
Mandy had once sought refuge with the Ice Queen. But as a half-elf, she couldn't even get an audience.
Not the Ice Queen herself.
One of her subordinates.
He was a pure-blood elf with massive pride in his heritage. When the ragged young Mandy showed up, he learned she was half and hurled abuse at her.
After that, the North District made her skin crawl.
Even though it was a subordinate, not the queen.
She never went back, and even mentions of the Ice Queen set her off.
Zeon's reaction differed.
"Thanks. Good info. Yeah, she'd probably know about Elharon."
"Glad I could help."
"But you know you have to keep this quiet, right?"
"Of course."
"Good."
Zeon nodded.
It was still a secret worth guarding.
Not widely known now, but eventually, people would learn of Elharon's existence.
Maybe Neo Seoul's top brass already did.
They just didn't know where.
Zeon was in the same boat.
After Dayton died with Hai Elton, Zeon wandered the world.
He'd even hit up Kamchatka Colony.
To search for Elharon, presumed nearby.
Zeon figured his skills would find it easy. Reality said otherwise.
No matter how hard he scoured, Elharon stayed hidden.
That's when he realized it was concealed by some special means.
Probably a barrier or illusion hiding it perfectly.
The moment it clicked, Zeon gave up the hunt.
Too many places he wanted to see.
No point wasting time fixating on one.
So he left Kamchatka and kept roaming.
Ice Queen, huh. Gotta meet her once I'm in Neo Seoul.
Not a sure thing, but a solid lead. Enough to head back to Neo Seoul with peace of mind.
Zeon started walking.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
"Thank you."
Mandy and Kim Sang-sik followed.
Kim Sang-sik was relieved Zeon hadn't ditched him.
Then Mandy sidled up and whispered,
"If word of this gets out, Eloi'll kill you."
"Eloi? No idea what you're talking about. Never saw anyone like that."
"Stick to that promise."
"Don't worry. I value my neck, too."
"We'll see."
Mandy's words sent chills down Kim Sang-sik's spine.
She'd kept her dual personalities a tight secret.
Her half-elf heritage, too.
If either leaked, she'd be in deep shit. That's why the threat.
Now Kim Sang-sik had to guard Zeon's secrets and Mandy's.
Luckily, he had a tight lip.
He vowed to keep it shut and glanced around.
No sign of Anika or Felix's bodies. Probably digesting in sandworm bellies by now.
The thought that it could've been him made his back crawl.
Then—
Shhh!
Sand erupted, and sandworms surfaced.
They circled Zeon, Mandy, and Kim Sang-sik briefly.
Zeon stomped lightly.
Thud!
A short, powerful vibration rippled through the sand.
The sandworms chased it off into the distance.
Kim Sang-sik gaped at the impossible sight, hand over mouth.
This guy's just...